Iran has displayed its continuing support for Syria�s Assad regime after the collapse of a Russian-Iranian initiative for high-level political talks.

Iran used the visit of a delegation from Damascus, led by Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi, for the show. Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Saturday, �The Islamic Republic will continue its current strategy in Syria and will not change its strategy of fighting extremism and supporting Syria.�

Amir-Abdollahian referred to Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif�s trip through the Middle East and beyond last week � including a meeting with President Assad in Damascus on Wednesday � but he did not mention that Iran�s �peace initiative� was undermined as travelling.

Last Tuesday, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir of Saudi Arabia, a leading supporter of Syria�s rebels, said there could be negotiations before Assad left power. The rebuff came in a press conference in Moscow, following al-Jubeir�s meeting with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

Zarif � who was in Beirut talking to Hassan Nasrallah of Hezbollah, another vital ally for Assad � immediately cancelled his next stop in Turkey, which also backs the Syrian opposition and rebellion.

Syria�s Zoubi is in travel as the head of a delegation at the General Assembly of the Radio and TV Union of Islamic Countries.

�Supporting [our] neighbors, friends and allies is a priority in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran,� Amir-Abdollahian said.

By EA WorldView